thisBlueberryis about toBucklefrom the heat

Did I just refer to myself as a blueberry? Case in point...I am slowly losing my mind. I'm officially declaring Mother Nature and myself at odds. It is completely wrong to live in Northwestern Indiana and have to deal with 100° temperatures. WRONG! Perhaps I wouldn't be so adverse to it if it were more sauna-like as opposed to the blanket of water I encounter when sticking one toe out the front door. And I have small toes. Ask anyone. My sisters love to give me a hard time (especially youngest sis aka finger toes). I don't know if it's just the fact that I'm getting old or what, but I've come to despise extreme temperatures in either direction. In all fairness though, I'm 99.99% positive that if some magical person came over and installed an underground pool in my backyard, I'd totally take back the curses I've yelled out thus far. Maybe growing up with a pool (in some form or another...grandparents, our house, neighbors, community pool) tainted my sense of heat perception before now (as in the last 10 years or so). Or maybe it was el niño or la niña or whichever one of those two caused this. I do hate to be a negative nelly, so I'll stop complaining now...but that wish for a pool-fairy stands.

Something that we get tons of from such wet heat, though...berries! I'll stand up and clap for that. I used a big ol' crop of them to make this coffee cake-style "buckle" a few weeks ago. When we had some actual awesome days in the 70°'s. Low 70°'s. {sigh}

Traditionally, a buckle is a rich cake batter that has fruit scattered over it and a streusel topping. While it is baking, the cake batter rises up and around to encase the fruit in batter, which in turn causes the streusel to buckle, creating its distinctive crinkly appearance.*

Sift together the flours, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Cream the butter with sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk. Toss the berries with a Tbs. or so flour (this helps to separate the berries and hold them up in the cake) and fold in. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Set aside.

Combine ingredients for the streusel with your fingers or a fork until crumbly and pea-sized (just grate as much nutmeg as you'd like...I use ~⅓ of a whole nutmeg). Scatter evenly over batter.

Bake for ~45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Gently run a thin-bladed knife around edge of pan to help release buckle and remove from pan.

Michiana-based food writer with a fondness for garlic, freshly baked bread, stinky cheese, dark beer, and Mexican food—who believes that immersing herself in different cultures one bite at a time is the best path to enlightenment.

39 comments

Ughh, we get dry heat here in California and some days are well over 100 degrees. I still cant complain though as I grew up in Scotland where it's almost 250 days of rain :( I like sunshine and I also like this buckle cake!!

I always remember eating lots of blueberries this time of year back home in northern Indiana. My brother even worked one summer in high school as a picker near Plymouth, IN. Loved that you used the Whole Spelt Flour, and thanks a Latte' for linking up to my Iron Chef Challenge!

I love your blueberry buckle, looks too tempting. Thankfully, California (Southern) hasn't been that horrible in temps till now, very unusual, as usually we are already in 100s here. But, looks like midwest got all the heat this time.

After a week of 100 degrees F (in Minnesota - the icebox of the nation), I never thought I would be so grateful to see 90 degrees! And we belong to a gym that has a pool - and they drained it this week - for maintenance. So much for pool fairies. Now - the buckle - yes, the buckle! I love the warming look of it with the unbleached flour and spelt. If we ever see 70 degrees again (watch it go down to 30), this will get made.

I really feel for you in all that hot weather. Don't know if I would survive it. We have nothing but clouds and rain this summer. Crazy weather. Blueberries are one of my favorite summer fruits. Beautiful cake.

I'm simply melting in this Texas heat myself. Thank you for sharing with me tonight. As always, this looks so delicious. I hope you have a fun and joy-filled weekend. I'm going to be baking and enjoying this Texas heat! Hugs from Austin!

It's stinkin' hot. My kids are here from TX and they even say it's hot. I'm not even thinking about baking right now because my air conditioning is broken, but this will be on my list for later, when we finally see those 70 degree days again!

Hi Heather,We have already buckled here in Texas. We are now into our 22 day of over 100 and no rain. It is unbearable. Our pasture grass is straw and we are more everyday. Our lake is so low no one can get their boat out of the dock. Now your Blueberry Buckle would sure make it better for me, I can almost taste it.It looks so delicious. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you again real soon! Have a great week!Miz Helen

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